Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 vintage: See Chianti Classico DOCG.

2012 in brief: Snowy winter. Chilly, damp spring. Sahara-like summer. Small healthy grapes gave clear if densely weighted wines.

2012 Growing season: ‘2012 started normally: cold, with snow in January and February. Mild, cool, rainy spring, especially in April. Rainfall in early May (Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico). The growing season was then affected by a severe drought, with summer heat records being broken across Italy. ‘The onslaught of extremely hot weather was more sudden [in 2012 than 2011], with August featuring three serious heat spikes,’ (Ian D’Agata, Vinous, Sept 2014). ‘July and August were boiling. Poor ground-water supplies slowed grape ripening [even if the fruit was healthy]. Rainfall in early September helped kick-start grape development. A general decrease of average temperatures and greater day-night temperature shifts also helped,’ (Source: Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico).

‘The 2012 growing season also featured autumn rains, so while wine quality is less consistent this year, many wines actually benefited from the cooling effect brought about by the rains,’ (Ian D’Agata, Vinous, Sept 2014). ‘The positive effects of September allowed an excellent development of ripening process of the grapes that were harvested when it is normally due in the Chianti Classico area, between the end of September and beginning of October. Grapes came to the cellar in perfect health conditions thanks to high temperatures and the lack of humidity that prevented the vine diseases to arise (mildew, powdery mildew, etc.). This allows a proper and sudden development of fermentation that brought a medium-sized alcohol level (around 14 maximum). The wines of Chianti Classico 2012 are very balanced with an exceptional balance between alcohol, acidity and polyphenols that convey smooth wines made of excellent grapes and a good and not extreme alcoholic content,’ (Source: Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico).

2012 Production: 22.8 million hl (Source: Federdoc as reported by I Numeri del Vino). 258,000hl (Source: Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico). Overall production was down by around 15%.

2012 Wine quality: The best growers made wines which were ripe but neither sweet and sour (heat stressed fruit) nor jammy (over-ripeness). The 2012s are ‘full-bodied and earthy, lower in fruit and aroma, but very solid, beefy, typical hot vintage wines,’ says Richard Baudains (2016, p.59). 2012 ‘Wines are not heavy but still for early drinking,’ (Susan Hulme MW, Decanter May 2018, p.91). Some producers declassified their Gran Selezione wines.

Bibliography

Richard Baudains., ‘Sleepy? Never,’ Decanter Italy 2016’, p.59).